diff --git a/src/libcharon/bus/listeners/file_logger.c b/src/libcharon/bus/listeners/file_logger.c
index d5d2a3d69..f9f1f0f51 100644
--- a/src/libcharon/bus/listeners/file_logger.c
+++ b/src/libcharon/bus/listeners/file_logger.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2012-2024 Tobias Brunner
+ * Copyright (C) 2012-2026 Tobias Brunner
  * Copyright (C) 2006 Martin Willi
  *
  * Copyright (C) secunet Security Networks AG
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
@@ -306,32 +307,42 @@ METHOD(file_logger_t, open_, void,
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		file = fopen(this->filename, append ? "a" : "w");
-		if (file == NULL)
+		int fd, flags = O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | (append ? O_APPEND : O_TRUNC);
+
+		fd = open(this->filename, flags, 0660);
+		if (fd < 0)
 		{
-			DBG1(DBG_DMN, "opening file %s for logging failed: %s",
+			DBG1(DBG_DMN, "opening file '%s' for logging failed: %s",
 				 this->filename, strerror(errno));
 			return;
 		}
 #ifdef HAVE_CHOWN
 		if (lib->caps->check(lib->caps, CAP_CHOWN))
 		{
-			if (chown(this->filename, lib->caps->get_uid(lib->caps),
-					  lib->caps->get_gid(lib->caps)) != 0)
+			if (fchown(fd, lib->caps->get_uid(lib->caps),
+					   lib->caps->get_gid(lib->caps)) != 0)
 			{
-				DBG1(DBG_NET, "changing owner/group for '%s' failed: %s",
+				DBG1(DBG_DMN, "changing owner/group for '%s' failed: %s",
 					 this->filename, strerror(errno));
 			}
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			if (chown(this->filename, -1, lib->caps->get_gid(lib->caps)) != 0)
+			if (fchown(fd, -1, lib->caps->get_gid(lib->caps)) != 0)
 			{
-				DBG1(DBG_NET, "changing group for '%s' failed: %s",
+				DBG1(DBG_DMN, "changing group for '%s' failed: %s",
 					 this->filename, strerror(errno));
 			}
 		}
 #endif /* HAVE_CHOWN */
+		file = fdopen(fd, append ? "a" : "w");
+		if (!file)
+		{
+			DBG1(DBG_DMN, "opening file %s for logging failed: %s",
+				 this->filename, strerror(errno));
+			close(fd);
+			return;
+		}
 #ifdef HAVE_SETLINEBUF
 		if (flush_line)
 		{